NBA Playoffs 2015: Predictions for Final Scores of Thursday's Games
There are three NBA playoff games on the schedule for Thursday, and in each one the higher seed is looking to take a 3-0 series lead. The Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers will accomplish their goal, but the top-seeded Golden State Warriors will drop their contest.
Here's a breakdown for each of the three games.
Bulls' Rebounding and Backcourt Too Much
Through two games, the Bulls have had their way on the glass. Chicago has won the rebounding battle 116-89 and blocked 17 shots. That performance by the bigs has been augmented by the Chicago backcourt. Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose have teamed for the type of guard play Bulls fans have longed for the last five years.
Butler has been especially hard for the Bucks to corral. He's averaging 28 points per game in the series so far. Rose struggled with his shot in Game 2, but he's still averaging 19 points and eight assists.
The Bulls will be without Nikola Mirotic, per Fox Sports: Hoops.
He suffered a quad and knee injury, but truth be told, the Bulls don't need their prize rookie to win this series.
A shift in venue isn't going to stem the tide for the Bucks on Thursday. Chicago will win Game 3, 100-89.
Cavs Starters Will Overcome Celtics
We know the Cavs are top-heavy, but the Boston Celtics have to get more out of their starting lineup. Through the first two games of the series, the C's first five are being outscored by the Cavs' starters 163-85.
That dynamic is putting too much pressure on the Boston bench to make a huge impact. The Celtics can't win that way. When the game is close, the Cavs have the players to turn to for tough buckets.
Look for the Celtics to keep this one close at home, but Cleveland's stars, namely LeBron James, will prove to be too much down the stretch. This one could come down to the final seconds, but Cleveland will prevail, 95-93.
Increased Defensive Effort and Role Players Will Boost Pels
The New Orleans Pelicans are going to lose their first-round series against the Golden State Warriors, but they will grab Game 3.
The Pels nearly stole Game 2, but they couldn't maintain a 13-point lead, or make the necessary plays in the fourth quarter to regain the lead they lost. Defensively, New Orleans did a solid job of limiting the Warriors to two sub-20-point quarters.
After holding the Warriors to 34 points in the paint, compared to 50 in Game 1, New Orleans is beginning to tighten the screws. There's still work to be done, but the seeds were planted.
Having Game 3 in its building couldn't come at a better time for New Orleans. It is ready to win its first—and possibly only—game of this series. New Orleans takes Game 3, 104-99.
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